Sugarfuse and Schoenbrunn Healthcare tops at Chocolate Love A'fair

Sugarfuse of Dover earned the Judges' Choice award for the fifth time in the last six years for its chocolate-themed treat during Union Hospital auxiliary's 18th annual Chocolate Love A'fair fundraiser.

Sugarfuse's Mirror Glaze Cake was selected by a panel of area “celebrity” judges as its top tasty selection while Schoenbrunn Healthcare of New Philadelphia earned the People's Choice award with a Turtle Trifle in voting by those in attendance at the event held in Buckeye Career Center.

Sugarfuse and Schoenbrunn Healthcare were two of the 24 area chocolate and dessert experts who prepared and offered treat samples to the 400 ticketholders at the event. All proceeds from the Chocolate Love A'fair are used by the UH auxiliary to buy patient care equipment and improve facilities at Union Hospital.

“I am forever grateful to and amazed by the outpouring of support from the participants and those purchasing tickets for the Chocolate Love A'fair every year,” said Lynn Ballantyne of Dover, who serves as chair of the event for the UH auxiliary. “It takes a lot of dedicated volunteers to prepare for and host this event, and the auxiliary and Union Hospital are very grateful to everyone who participated and attended.”

Gift baskets, gift certificates, desserts and other items donated by local restaurants and businesses also were auctioned off during the event through services donated by Rick Keffer Auctions of New Philadelphia.

The chocolate-themed desserts offered for sampling were prepared by the following chefs, bakeries and chocolatiers:

—A Taste of Dante's of New Philadelphia.

—Benson's Market and Catering of Dover.

—Biscotti by the Bunch of Zoar.

—Buehler's Fresh Foods of Dover and New Philadelphia.

—Canal Street Diner of Bolivar.

—Claymont Health & Rehab of Uhrichsville.

—Coblentz Chocolate Co. of Walnut Creek.

—Country Club Rehabilitation Campus of Dover.

—Country Inn & Suites by Carlson of Dover.

—Giant Eagle of Dover.

—Grinders Above & Beyond of Dover.

—Hampton Inn of New Philadelphia.

—Hennis Care Centre of Dover and Bolivar.

—L & J of Dover.

—Litty's Cakes and Cookies of New Philadelphia.

—Mandy's Candies of Dennison.

—Miller's Creamery of New Philadelphia.

—Schoenbrunn Healthcare of New Philadelphia.

—Schoenbrunn Inn & Conference Center of New Philadelphia.

—Sugarfuse of Dover.

—Sweetie's Place of Bolivar.

—The Inn at Northwood Village of Dover.

—Union Country Club of Dover.

—Union Hospital Nutrition Services.

Coffee was provided by K & M Coffee Services Inc. of North Canton.

The Union Hospital auxiliary hosts several events throughout the year as fundraisers to support the hospital, which is a not-for-profit organization. Visit the auxiliary page at www.unionhospital.org for more details.

Information about Union Hospital and all of its services available to the community is available on the hospital website at www.unionhospital.org and on the hospital's pages on Facebook and Twitter (@Union_Hospital).